Oh hey… it’s been awhile.

I’ve been staring at my keyboard for a good 10 minutes now trying to figure out how I should even begin to start writing again. Two years of my life have gone by since my last post and I don’t even have a good enough excuse as to why I’ve neglected to write these last 730 days. I could say that while living in Manhattan, I had absolutely no time while working long hours through retail madness, fashion week production and internships, but that’s just a bit dramatic. Honestly, like I wrote, I have no good reason.

I moved temporarily back home last September and I’m sitting in my old bedroom at my parent’s house now. These last couple years I have lived so fast, with electric highs and heavy lows. Sometimes it’s nice to come back home and slow down life’s metronome, even for a moment. So for now, I’m putting off trying to navigate my ever-changing life and just write to you. I’ve missed this.

This post isn’t about any specific beauty product or style advice, but I decided to simply list the things that have been bringing me joy so far in 2019. Why not start back up with a little positivity? After all, I have so much to be grateful for.

First off, my family GOT A NEW PUPPY.

This is Lily. She is now about 9 months old, we got her on Halloween through the most amazing dog rescue, Hamburg Mutts for Freedom . You should check out their page and give them some love! The work they do is absolutely incredible.

Lily has brought so much light into my life. I got her right after my grandparents passed away and she has helped the whole family get through it. Its funny how life sometimes works- two very important people in my life are gone but I have gained the unconditional love of a canine companion. I think Lily was brought into my life for a reason.

Besides this sweet lil’ girl joining the family, I have been really trying to explore my new surroundings lately. I’m taking some much needed time for myself- I recently got the most amazing natural facial in a small place in downtown Buffalo (ok, so I will talk about beauty a bit.) Never underestimate the power of decongested pores! I’ve been putting off getting a facial for a bit now and honestly, it was long overdue.

Oh, and shoutout to Buffalo. Everyone talks about the bitter-cold fury of Buffalo weather, but no one ever talks about the wonders of the Western New York Winter sun.

I’ve also had a new spark of joy from some new tunes that have recently been released. Nothing like a solid, well produced album to send you some good vibes during the blue- lit winter months.

It’s been a while since I could whole-heartedly recommend an entire album and not just highlight a particularly good song to a friend. Maggie Rogers’ new album “Heard it in a Past Life” has been my go-to driving choice since it came out. Rogers, sparking viral fame after a speechless Pharrell heard her track “Alaska” during a NYU masterclass, just came out with this first album. Already pretty much all her shows are sold out. Even though not every song is melodically intricate, I love her incorporation of electronica into her folk songwriting. Sure it’s not a perfect album but it makes me happy and that’s enough for me. She is a true artist and the enthusiasm she brings to her craft is nothing but inspiring.

Oh! and here is my FEBRUARY 2019 Spotify playlist, a mix of new and old. It’s quite a random mix but these songs have been on a heavy rotation so far.

I am now currently listening to Sharron Van Etten’s new album “Remind me Tomorrow” and the rain is slowly falling (how stereotypically poetic.) I have a few of my favorites from that album on the playlist above (it’s a fantastic album to listen to all the way through.)

It actually reached 50 degrees here in Western New York and that nostalgic smell of Spring is here, if only for today. The sound of raindrops mute my anxious thoughts and Lily is sleeping next to me as I type. I hear her take deep breaths beside me as the drops fall. I also just lit an overpriced Anthropologie candle though I can justify the price since it has the perfect combination of bergamot and amber. What a scene I’m setting huh?

Anyways, it feels good to finally write again. Though this post was kind of a random blurb of my life and thoughts, I really appreciate you stopping by. I’m going to bring back the beauty posts for sure, so if you have any suggestions or requests, let me know!